Background:Specific learning disabilities (SLDs) are an important cause of academic underachievement in children and are also associated with comorbidities like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) which further have an impact on the child's education.Aims:To estimate the prevalence and psychosocial profile and psychiatric comorbidities in children with SLD in two settings, i.e., on special (remedial) education and schools and to compare the findings with normal children.Materials and Methods:This study was carried out in schools situated in urban and semi-urban areas and special education schools. A total of 96 children were chosen for the study. After taking informed consent from the parents, the details about socioeconomic status, family, developmental history, and school history of the children were collected on a semi-structured pro forma and then the children were screened for SLD. They were administered colored/standard progressive matrices and Malin's intelligence scale for assessing their intelligence quotient and NIMHANS SLD index and developmental psychopathology checklist to study psychopathology. Chi-square test and ANOVA were done.Results:The prevalence of SLD in schools is found out to be 6.6%. There was a significant association with prematurity, cesarean section, delayed speech, and family history of SLD. Among comorbidities of SLD, association with ADHD alone has been found to be significant.Conclusion:The most common type of SLD is combined type comorbid with ADHD. There is a need for early identification of learning disabilities in schools so that with early recognition and remedial intervention children can be helped with to cope with studies.

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Introduction: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition seen in children during their early develop-mental phase where children lack in achieving age-appropriate skills or they are unable to meet the social demands due to limited capacities. It is characterised by impairments in social communication, interaction and presence of restrictive, repetitive interests/behaviours. Prevalence of ASD has increased in recent times which warrants for early identification and intervention. *The word Autism is used in this study to denote Autism Spectrum Disorders. Aim: To study the profile of children less than 5yrs of age specifically brought for suspicion of ASD by parents. Methodology: This is a cross sectional descriptive study conducted at Child Psychiatry Department of Asha Hospital for 1year with children less than 5yrs of age. 44 children with suspicion of ASD, brought by parents were evaluated through clinical inter-view using DSM-5, psychological tests- Developmental screening test, CARS-2(Childhood Autism Rating Scale), M-CHAT and CBCL. Results: Most children were between 3-5yrs of age (68.18%), were predominantly males (72.73%), 47.73% had significant prena-tal factors, 22.73% of mothers had preterm delivery, 27.27% had postnatal complications, 36.36% of children had Delayed mile-stones and 59.09% speech delay. The symptoms presented were, ‘poor/no’ response to name (90.90%), poor Eye-Eye contact (95.46%), poor socialisation (97.73%), stereotypic behaviour (81.18%) and sensory issues (52.27%). ADHD (54.54%) & intel-lectual disability (95.45%) were the common psychiatric comorbidity.18.18% children had mild autism and 15.90% children were at a risk of autism. Conclusions: The symptoms presented by parents for suspicion of autism were depicted to be either mild or risk of ASD on screening

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